The Malekko Heavy Industry B:Assmaster is a hand-built octave fuzz pedal aimed at bassists, inspired by the original Maestro Bass Brassmaster harmonic octave fuzz. According to Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio, this modern version delivers the same octave overdrive and harmonic generation effect as the original, but in a quiet, fully controllable pedal1. It sits in the wider family of octave and pitch pedals and fuzz pedals.
What it does and how it is controlled
The B:Assmaster takes the Bass Brassmaster's harmonic generation approach and adds modern control. The pedal's five controls provide complete control over the tone, overtones, harmonics and mix of the dry and wet signal, which is the heart of what makes this kind of octave fuzz usable: you can blend the harmonic octave content against your clean tone rather than replacing it1.
An expression jack is offered for the sensitivity control, added in an updated version of the pedal noted on Delicious Audio's page in April 20231.
Delicious Audio describes the enclosure as a modern, rugged, and reliable package that supplies the same classic fuzz tones as the original1.
On bass and on guitar
Although the pedal is aimed at bassists, De Gregorio writes that it "performs equally well on guitars"1.
The dry/wet mix is a large part of why. Guitarist Jimmy Shaw of Metric and Broken Social Scene described it this way1:
"you’re able to mix in a super fuzzy sound, which is really cool because bass fuzz, as common as it is, is incredibly hard to do well."1
Shaw's comment appears on Delicious Audio's page alongside a note that the pedal is in Flea's rig, per his tech Tracy Robar, who called it "a great pedal, great fuzz, distortion pedal. That's his new favorite"1.
Power and practical notes
The pedal runs on a 9vDC adapter with a negative tip or a 9v battery1. Its current draw is approximately 180mA1, which is high enough that a dedicated output on a pedalboard power supply is worth planning for.
With a current draw of approximately 180mA1, the B:Assmaster may exceed what a single daisy-chained output on a modest power supply can deliver. Check your supply's per-output current before sharing a line with other pedals.
The pedal is true bypass, so when it is off, your signal passes through untouched1.
Where it sits in Malekko's range
Malekko Heavy Industry describes the B:Assmaster as a hand-built clone of the Maestro Bass Brassmaster harmonic octave fuzz, updated for modern boards: the same classic fuzz tones as the original in a modern, rugged, and reliable package1.
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Questions
Does the Malekko B:Assmaster work on guitar?
Yes. Although the pedal is aimed at bassists, Delicious Audio's Paolo De Gregorio writes that it performs equally well on guitars. Its circuit is based on the Maestro Bass Brassmaster, a harmonic octave fuzz designed for bass, but the octave overdrive and harmonic generation effect translates to six strings, and guitarist Jimmy Shaw of Metric and Broken Social Scene has praised the way its fuzz can be mixed with the dry signal.
What is the Malekko B:Assmaster based on?
The B:Assmaster is inspired by the original Maestro Bass Brassmaster octave fuzz pedal. According to Delicious Audio, it is a hand-built clone of that harmonic octave fuzz, delivering the same octave overdrive and harmonic generation effect in a modern, quiet and fully controllable pedal.
Can the B:Assmaster run on a battery?
Yes. The pedal can be powered by a 9vDC adapter with a negative tip or by a 9v battery. Note that its current draw is approximately 180mA, so if you use an adapter, make sure your supply can provide that much current on the output you plug it into.
How much current does the B:Assmaster draw?
Current draw is approximately 180mA, according to Delicious Audio's product page. That is well above what many daisy-chain supplies deliver per output, so a dedicated output on a pedalboard power supply is the safer choice.
Is the B:Assmaster true bypass?
Yes. The pedal is true bypass, so when it is switched off, your instrument's signal passes through without loading or coloring from the circuit.
Sources (1)
- Malekko B:Assmaster Octave Fuzz, Delicious Audio, 2023-04-10
